Alcohol wholesalers give another $3.4 mil to fight privatized booze

The trade group representing alcohol wholesalers has contributed another $3.4 million to fight a liquor privatization measure on the November ballot.

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, Inc., made the donation on Oct. 11, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. The wholesalers have now given nearly $9 million in cash to the Protect Our Communities committee.

Costco, which is the main force behind Initiative 1183, has given about $10 million in cash in its attempt to be able to sell booze.

Dominic Holden points out on Slog that this latest fight over spirits sales is now the “most heavily funded initiative battle in state history.”

I-1183, which would privatize spirits sales, also aims to generate new revenues for state and local governments, and dedicates money for public safety programs and restrict sales from convenience stores and gas stations. Those changes were made to combat concerns that last year’s privatization proposal pushed by Costco raised public safety risks and hurt government budgets. Stores that get liquor licenses would have to pay 17 percent of liquor revenues to the state under I-1183. Liquor distribution businesses would give the state as much as 10 percent of their revenues.

Alex Fryer, spokesman for the Protect Our Communities group, which opposes I-1183, has said there are concerns that the measure would end up allowing small outfits like convenience stores to sell spirits.